The 27-year-old, who came through the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth system, joined Netanya ahead of the 2006/07 season and blossomed under the guidance of coach Reuven Atar.
By ALLON SINAIMaccabi TA 298.88(photo credit: AP)
Avi Strul took the number of Israeli players in the Belgian top-flight to six on Thursday after Sporting Lokeren confirmed the signing of the Maccabi Netanya defender.
The 27-year-old, who came through the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth system, joined Netanya ahead of the 2006/07 season and blossomed under the guidance of coach Reuven Atar. Strul quickly became a regular in the team's back-four and attracted the attention of several European clubs before signing for Lokeren.
The Belgian club, where Israeli striker Omer Golan also plays, only paid an estimated $200,000 to activate the release clause in Strul's contract.
Besides Golan, Strul also joins Salim Toama (Standard Liege), Gili Vermut (K.A.A. Gent), Barak Itzhaki and Elyaniv Barda (KRC Genk) in the Belgian league.
In other local soccer news, Bnei Yehuda announced that Guy Luzon will be the team's next coach late Wednesday.
Luzon has a dismal 2007/08 season, but Bnei Yehuda decided nevertheless to hand the young coach another chance, hoping he'll be able build on the team's unlikely escape from relegation.
Luzon began last season at Hapoel Tel Aviv, but after winning just once in 10 league matches was pushed out of the club in November.
The 32-year-old then returned to Maccabi Petah Tikva, which is owned by his uncles, but after the team picked up just five points in 11 matches Luzon had no choice but to leave his second club of the season.
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